Tammy Gardner
Singer, Songwriter, Acoustic Musician
I grew up in a small town in north central NJ during the time acoustic greats like Gordon Lightfoot and James Taylor were becoming well known. They, like other acoustic artists of the time had a tremendous influence on the direction of my musical development.
At the ripe old age of 12, I launched my songwriting career. Coming to Virginia Beach in the 70's put me in the path of some of the best writers and players in the country. I was really amazed at the very high level of talent in this area just on a local level.
Before taking guitar lessons in the late 80's from local legend Lewis McGehee, I had never actually played above the 3rd fret. He not only showed me what the rest of the guitar was for, he also collaborated on several songs with me and encouraged me to get out there and sing myself.
Not long afterwards I met Kim Cleveland, who was young and beautiful and seriously talented. Considering my own career as a performer.....it occurred to me I'd be better off playing with her, than trying to compete with her playing at a club across the street. And as it turned out we became the best of friends and partners.
Our duo, T.K.LLegs, played in the Tidewater area and beyond for 3 and 1/2 of the best years of my life. We wrote several songs together and recorded our first c.d. "Do You Really Think We've Got a Chance," produced by Mark Spencer.
We really enjoyed coming up with intricate harmonies and unexpected guitar parts, and pretty much laughed ourselves silly as we continually cracked each other up. It's possible the audiences had as much fun as we did. But time marches on. Kim got married and moved away from the area and then I started my solo career with the help of manager and dear friend Kim Plyler.
Brent Havens produced my second c.d. called "The Indian Man," including some beautiful saxophone work by Eddie Williams (it's my favorite part.....I listen to this c.d. just to hear Eddie).
The "solo years" weren't always solo. In the earlier 2000's I teamed up with with the multi-talented Rob Sanson, who liked to point out that the disparity in our personal physical altitudes made us look like the musical version of the comic duo "Penn and Teller." While it is true that I barely reach 5 feet in stockings, I sing taller.
Shortly after becoming a 911 dispatcher, I thought I had reached the end of the musical road. The demands of the 911 career pretty much soaked up all the creative energy and I made plans to "retire" from performing.
My old friend "Beetle" Bailey thought I should do another c.d. instead and became the producer of that project. I went to Tennessee to visit my old partner Kim, and while there her husband Doug recorded the songs for the "Trouble" c.d. Kim sings with me on "I Wish that we were Sailing."
Another local legend, Martin Marron, the multi-talented Irish pub singer, designed all the artwork for "Trouble" and got it pressed for me. So the truth is, I get by with a LOT of help from my friends!
A couple years after "Trouble" came out, I made another run at "retiring." Just call me Michael Jordan. I'm back. I am once again conspiring with Rob Sanson (we like to think it's more like rehearsing)...and will begin to perform with him at the end of 2007. Stay tuned.
